The modern Indian woman never lets a bit of bark stand in the way of spirited fun. To climb a tree with effortless poise, start by choosing a wardrobe that marries modesty with movement; a blue satin dress ensures you remain perfectly covered while reaching for those higher branches. Approach the trunk with a confident smile, keeping your back straight and your movements fluid. Secure your footing firmly. Pull yourself upward using the strength of your sun-kissed arms. Avoid audible huffing and scrambling. Instead, treat every branch like a step on a velvet staircase. Once you have reached your desired perch, pat your hair back into its bouffant, ensure your pearls are where they belong, and smooth the blue satin over your knees so it catches the dappled sunlight. Satin is a slippery customer, so manage your skirt with the same steady poise you would accord say a glass of sherry. To lend the afternoon a dash of spectacle, you may now glide from branch to branch with the practiced ease one would use to navigate tea tables at the Poona Club. You will look absolutely radiant against the canopy. Remember ladies, elegance is an attitude. It travels with you from the drawing-room all the way to the very top of your garden.
Now, on to a weightier matter: Does Rooh Afza sherbet belong at a baby shower? I will reveal all next month.
◯ ݁˖𓍢ִ໋ 🌾
when it comes to practicing union through the path of yoga and dissolving the boundaries between the cognitive compartments in the mind, one practice I’ve found to be extremely helpful is that of exalting something without rejecting or dismissing its opposite.
while it’s good to know what we like and dislike, and respect the dual nature of what is referred to as ‘maya’ (which is more of a ‘superimposed reality’ than an ‘illusion’, acc to advaita vedanta philosophy), it could prove to be helpful to create space for the opposite to exist either in neutrality or with a positive charge.
this creates a field of sameness within which we are free to explore various concepts from a more impersonal, expansive space.
doing so :
- maintains flexibility of the mind
- allows me to switch to embodying the seeming opposite of what I currently do, if a situation calls for it, without much internal resistance (a decrease in compulsive identification)
- increases compassion towards traits I may not prefer
- helps me see things just as they are (without the lens of attachment or aversion)
this could be applied in obvious ways: I like people who are bold, but there’s nothing wrong with those who are more reserved. or in more subtle ways: I admire those who are compassionate and inclusive but I also have nothing against those who are divisive and non-inclusive. in doing so, we acknowledge and integrate that aspect in ourselves too.
as the horseshoe theory states: what we may perceive as stark opposites closely resemble each other. when we lean too far into one polarity, we often find ourselves touching its opposite.
modern physics tells us that space is over 95% “empty.” but we now know that what was once called emptiness is in fact, dark matter & dark energy — the invisible substances that hold the universe together and expand it simultaneously.
that which looks like nothingness is in fact, everythingness.
this reinforces the ancient truth:
the above is the below
the below is the above
there truly is no separation!
contd in comments :’)
they say the spirit of a civilisation is reflected in how it treats its land and its women. and to see such immense beauty, respected and cared for, and the women — bold and progressive, yet so dutiful and feminine, I immediately knew that this place was going to be special.
aside from Luang Prabang, which is polished, close to perfect, immensely charming and culturally rich, the other towns we visited, Vang Vieng & Nong Khiaw, were rough around the edges (literally, due to the spikey karst limestone mountains hehe) yet overflowing with magic.
the stray animals looked loved-up and well-fed and the children were weird, wonderful and happy , actively helping their parents or even running restaurants by themselves / with their siblings, sometimes.
we were met with nothing but kindness and generosity everywhere we went. even the natural world, with the deep and mysterious caves and the impossibly blue waters felt friendly and welcoming. I still dream about the noodle soups and coffees that nourished me to the bone… hearty, heartwarming and unforgettable .
maybe it’s the nation’s tumultuous history, the gentle and ubiquitous hum of Theravada Buddhism or the wise, wild energy of the land, there’s one thing I know for sure: love is tucked into every corner in Laos.
I’ve had my eye on this little landlocked country for a while and I’m so grateful to have experienced the immense beauty it holds with my cutuuu @which.rich 🧚
Kopchai lai lai Laos 🇱🇦 ݁˖𓍢ִ໋
grateful for everything it has given me and already looking forward to going back ♡
(you best believe I have already made and consumed 2 jars of ghiow mak phet (chunky, garlicy chilli oil) in the last 2 weeks)
݁˖𓍢ִ໋
sometimes, the denser it feels, the slower I need to move to allow the body-mind to chew and digest ! yesterday’s practice was such 🌬️
thank you body
thank you breath
thank you life 🖤
one quote that always reminds me how simple it can be:
inhale, and God approaches you. hold the inhalation, and God remains with you. exhale, and you approach God. hold the exhalation, and surrender to God
- T. Krishnamacharya
another :
breathing in, I know I am breathing in
breathing out, I know I am breathing out
- Thich Nhat Hanh
love you!
🩷
jodhpur, the blue (and beaut) city 🦋 ݁˖𓍢ִ໋
shoutout to @bluecitybydeepak , who took us to all the cool spots after he found us aimlessly wandering the streets !
